Sickle Cell Disease - Lifestyle Changes

Highlights	Diagnosis	Lifestyle Changes
Introduction	Outlook	Resources
Risk Factors	Complications	References
Symptoms	Treatment

Lifestyle Changes

There are no proven methods for preventing either sickle cell crises or long-term complications of sickle cell disease. By taking precautions and aggressively managing problems that occur, however, patients are now living longer with a better quality of life.

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General Precautions

To prevent or reduce the severity of long-term complications, a number of precautions may be helpful that include the following:

Have regular physical examinations every three to six months.
Have periodic and careful eye examinations.
Have sufficient rest, warmth, and increased fluid intake. (These are critical precautions for reducing oxygen loss and the risk for dehydration.)
Avoid conditions, such as crowds, that increase risk for infections.
Avoid excessive demands on the body that would increase oxygen needs (physical overexertion, stress). Low impact exercise (leg lifts, light weights) may be useful and safe for maintaining strength, particularly in the legs and hips, but patients should consult their doctor about any exercise program.
Avoid high altitudes if possible. If flying is necessary, be sure that the airline can provide oxygen.
Do not smoke, and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke. Both active and passive smoking may promote acute chest syndrome in sickle cell patients.

Dietary Factors and Supplements

Foods. Good nutrition is essential for anyone and critical for patients with sickle cell disease. Some dietary recommendations are as follows:

Fluids are number one in importance. The patient should drink as much water as possible each day to prevent dehydration. Female patients may want to include cranberry juice to help prevent urinary tract infections.
It is important to have five to nine daily servings of green, red, and yellow vegetables, fruits, or juices that are rich in antioxidants and other important nutrients. Some research suggests that antioxidant foods or supplements (such as vitamins E or C) may help inhibit the formation of the dense cells that trigger a sickle cell crisis. One medical group has created a "cocktail" of supplements and food extracts that were rich in antioxidants and iron-binding compounds that might have more protective effects on the sickling process than single antioxidants. It includes garlic extract, black and green tea extract, pycnogenol, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E, coenzyme Q(10), and beta-carotene. In any case patients might eat foods containing these extracts and take supplements of the antioxidant vitamins E and C if their diet does not adequately supply them.
The chemical resveratrol, which is found in red grape skins, appears to have properties similar to hydroxyurea, the primary drug used in sickle cell disease. Drinking great amounts of grape juice is unlikely to make much difference, but adding it to a child's diet is unlikely to do harm.
Protein is important for sickle cell patients.
Studies on omega-three fatty acids, found in fish and soybean oil, suggest that they might make red blood cell membranes less fragile, and possibly less likely to sickle, although no studies have proven this definitively. Fish and soy products have health benefits in any case. In one study, fish oil supplements reduced the frequency of painful episodes in 10 sickle cell patients over the course of a year compared to those given olive oil capsules.